(1875-10-27) A Gift Horse
A Gift Horse
Summary: Ludovic, Elisha, and Alia travel to Cheval.
Date: 2019-10-27
Related: None specifically, Elisha's outfitting generally, references Dovi's sword finding.
NPCs: Faith, the king of his domain. Albus, a snow white horse.
Players:
Alia  Elisha  Ludovic  

County - Mount Hadres
Mount Hadres, both a boon to defense and to those laying siege. The steep mountain winds ever upwards, paths are tricky and even the main road that leads to the the Daemon's Hall is something of a danger come the later months. The steep incline of the green slopes, mingled with pale rock and adorned with a few vertigo-impervious mountain goats, rises upon high, leading towards the beautiful, if plainly designed Holdfast of the d'Korbina family. The castle itself is stark in design, square shuttered windows are dark against the light stone, while eventually, upon making the journey, the only route into the castle is along a walled bridge that leads to a sturdy and reinforced main door.
1875-10-27

Does it ever feel like Ludovic just shows up and then like a tornado, carries you off like dorothy, and then somehow you end up landing in places unintended? Today was kind of like that. He showed up. Proved why the first knight he saw used to call him the stormbull. And before you knew which way was up and which was down you're all on horseback heading out to Cheval with him regaling you both with some stupid story about a particularly shaggy bear and a fishwife. Don't ask. It had no logic and is frankly rude in places. But it was entertaining in that harrowing way that all tales which leave you wondering how does that work so often manage to be. Now, as the manor house built in a small lake, or big pond, hovers into view Ludovic gives that big vibrant smile of his and points it out "Almost there! You'll have to wait to hear about the fishwifes hairy sons later!"

-

Like almost all her misadventures with Ludovic, Elisha finds herself wondering just how on Urth she wound up here, and of course there is no answer. Its lost in the benign and weirdly amusing story about the bear and the fishwife. Luckily for Dovi the woman has no sensibility to be offended

"So we're here, care to tell us what it is we're doing here?" she asks good naturedly, its a good distraction from waiting till she can be useful in preventing the end of the world if nothing else.

-

Alia was used to the whirlwind that was Ludovic, and she could do with a ride out of the city. And so it was not terribly difficult to get her ahorse and riding. The story she paid only partial attention to, to be honest, but then, Dovi enjoyed telling them so much, she could just ask him later if she missed any of the important bits. "I cannot even think of when I was last here." Likely back when Ludovic was only a Horned Knight and these were his lands.

-

"Not that long ago." Ludovic tells Alia with an amused grin. "You tried to touch one of the mares and nearly lost an arm." He nudges Sidhe, his fancy black horse, into a trot and they clatter through the gates into the yard before he deigns to give Elisha a wink. "You'll see." He dismounts as typical, by taking one leg over his horses head and then just hopping down the side, before going over to lift Elisha down. He doesn't ask of course. No that would be too good and besides if the glint in his remaining blue eye is anything to go by he knows full well she'll be angry about it.

-

Elisha just goes along with it, because hey, it's Ludovic and whats the point of trying to understand why that man does the things he does, so she just rides along and laughs at the tale of how her sister nearly lost an arm to a horse, she rides well enough Elisha assumes it must have just been a tenpermental one.

Then the horse pulls out from under her!

"Alia, i'm sorry, you're going to need a new senator when i'm done with him," she remarks before whacking Ludovic upside the head on his non blind side. Normally she'd just grumble and glare, but that twinkle in his eye demanded retaliation!

-

"There's nothing wrong with being handed down from a horse, was Alia's amused reply, as she slipped from the saddle herself. "And it was my own fault, really, for not asking beforehand if the horse was trained well enough to mind being handled." She took a moment to settle herself on the ground, reaching out to ensure that she had all of her kit with her. "But spare the Senator if you can. He's not easily replaced."

-

She smacks him. So Ludovic drops her. Just like that. One moment she's half way off the horse with Ludovic preventing the earth from leaping up to claim her. Next. No Ludovic. "Ow." He says in a way that suggests it didnt hurt at all. Rubbing at his eyebrow and giving Elisha the nearest thing to wounded puppy eyes he can manage.

-

Elisha grins over at Alia even as she's plopped down on the ground, because quite frankly, she's been through much worse. "No but there is much wrong with being a turd!" she explains with a laugh before her eyes find Ludovics and she just laughs harder, getting to her feet she presses a chaste kiss to his temple with a roll of her eyes.

"There, kissed it better," she replies with the same twinkle as Ludovic had before in her eyes while her sister cautions her to spare Dovi. "He's unique alright, that I grant you," she counters teasingly

-

Alia looked on at the Knights shenanigans, but made no move to get between them. She seemed pleased, all told that Elisha was so comfortable with her old friend. Once they had set themselves to rights, she glanced down towards Cheval, "But I to am curious about why we've come, Ludovic."

-

"I can't help it if the cast broke when I crawled out." Ludovic waggles his eyebrows jokingly as he leans to accept the kiss. He straightens up and just like that starts striding back towards the gate. Slowing only once he's remembered that they only have short little legs. "You're smart enough to guess that." He tells Alia warmly. "Theres a prize if you guess right." Once through the gate he starts leading them towards a cluster of barns and paddocks. "Maybe I'll even play on your side the next time theres a calfchase game."

-

Elisha laughs good naturedly at his reaction and then when he's up and moving she scrambles up off her butt, dusting off and jogging to catch up, nearly colliding into Dovi when he slows but thankfully she's quick on her feet.

"Ugh I am smarter than to do anything but play on your team during calf chase," she says with a good natured shove as she starts walking backwards to talk to Alia while she catches up. "Make sure to get that deal in writing!"

-

Alia offered a smile in answer to Ludovic's challenge, "I think I know. But I also think that I won't try to spoil things." She waited for Elisha to dust herself off, before the two women took off behind Ludovic. She had long become accustomed to having to catch up to those who were taller than she, and so, she did not try to match Ludovic's with the three of her own that would be required, she simply came at her own pace. "I have never actually participated in a calf chase, though I might be tempted to sponsor a champion for one."

-

Ludovic gives a low chuckle. "There aren't many who will play seriously against me anymore. Takes all the sport out of it it does." They reach a paddock with four young (but mature) horses inside and Ludovic steps up onto the lowest rung of the fence and leans over. "Guessed yet Elisha?" He gives Alia a grin. "I'll get you a prize anyhow."

-

Elisha rolls her eyes and hops up next to Ludovic as she too leans on the fence while waiting on her sister to catch up. "I play against you seriously, but it's like the human who walks into a vampire lair, I know ots pointless but gosh darnit i have to try!" she protests when he claims no one tries to compete with him and whe. he asks /her/ whats going on she grins broadly as she taps her chin in faux thoughtfullness. "Call me crazy, but are we here about the horses?"

-

Alia did not climb up on the fence, it would have been too easy to tip her over. Rather, she settled in against one of the posts, eyes following the horses as they were being tended by their handlers. "I've always wondered why you haven't done more with your trade in horses, Ludovic. You have a fine breed here. Better than most of the horses available in the Empire, or so Darius tells me. Fine enough, I think, to compete with the other great houses that claim to have good stock."

-

Ludovic puts a hand into a pocket in his bearskin cloak and presents an apple to Alia as if its the greatest prize that ever was. "Near enough." He says to Elisha. "Pick one and she's yours."

-

Elisha blinks rapidly and looks between Ludovic and the apple like she isn't sure if he's serious. Then realized he completely is and after cautiously taking the apple spares Alia an inviting glance to join her as she clambours into the field.

-

Alia, as seemed to have become the norm, both accepted the apple and then did not eat it, instead handing it to Elisha, before she followed her into the paddock. She was more cautious, though, and knowing that the final choice was not hers, allowed her sister to reach the animals first. "You will not find better."

-

Now that the most brilliant gift giving bit is well underway Ludovic grins at Elisha's response before looking to Alia. "Was he talking about these?" He gestures to the horses in the paddock. "Or the likes of my Sidhe and his Pyrkagia?" Another apple gets pulled from out of his cloak and presented to the Princepsa. "Well suppose it doesn't matter. The answers much the same. We just dont breed enough and with the Hellsmouth breed at least." again he gestures to the four in the paddock. "They just aren't that flashy. Folks want the al'Callenta or Tarris warhorses just because folks have told them they are the best and because they think a warhorse has to be big. But big aint always best." he gives that irrascible grin of his and an eyebrow waggle before laughing. "Sometimes it is! But big horses have big problems. Get it?"

-

"I imagine he meant your horse or his, but they were both from this stock. And Tarris and al'Callenta generally, from what I have seen, get to claim they have the best horses because no one looks to challenge that." Alia left Elisha to her exploration, taking a step or two back and leaving the other woman room to work. And yes, I get it, but that doesn't change my feelings on the matter."

-

"Pyrkagia and Sidhe are special." Ludovic says to Alia. "And the tribe leaders prize their type just as much as I do. So i'm having a hell of a time getting hold of enough breeding stock." He smiles at her. "But its the plan. Gonna make a whole new bloodline from Sidhe. Light horses, lithe, and beautiful, brave and /comfortable/" Another grin. "And most of all difficult to get and expensive. I'm gonna train them too. But i've gotta get the stock first before I can actually truly sell any. Although I've been thinking I might try selling one to Myrana. I dont know if she's intrigued enough by having the finest of fine horses but shes the only one I know who could likely pay enough to make it worth it. Giving up Pyrkagia was a gamble if I'm honest. I still dont have proof that Sidhe will breed true. This spring. This spring I'll know for sure." he looks out towards the four horses as they spend time examining Elisha even as she examines them. "Al'Callenta and Tarris do make the best heavy warhorses. My Sandstorm's mostly al'Callenta blood."

-

Elisha hasn't strayed far from the main group as she's looking at all the horses, she's not someone with a critical eye for them so she just looks for one that kind of speaks to her before turning around to Dovi at his words. "Once things calm down again, i'd be happy to help with breeding, even if it doesn't make much money the horses are good! Be glad you're underestimated it gives you an edge on the enemy," she replies with a wink before padding over to a horse.

The creature is white as snow and gentle, about as opposite to Elisha as one could get, and maybe thats exactly why she opts to offer it the apple with a small smile.

-

"Darius, so far as I know, has no desire to geld him. If he survives his service in the legion, or even if mares are brought to him, I see no reason why he could not stud for you. He is still young, of course, but do many breeders not turn their older horses to stud once they have given their length of service?" Alia watched Elisha with the horses, gaze moving from one to the other as she worked her way through them, a small smile curling her lips as Elisha made her choice.

-

"She." Ludovic tells Alia with a grin. "I gave him a mare." as Elisha picks the white one Ludovic raises his voice a touch. "Are you picking her then?" He twists to look back to Alia. "I love you both you know? Like my very own sisters."

-

"Ah, my mistake. Darius has been afield so often of late, I have not even seen the horse at a distance. I simply assumed you gave him a staliion." Alia did not seem at all put out by her mistake, though she reached out a hand to set it on Ludovic's arm, "I know, Dovi. And you are my brother."

-

Elisha smiles to herself as she goes from feeding to petting the horses mane and finally hopping astride, bareback was fine when you were only going a little ways and she arrives just in time to hear Dovi's whispered words, and ever the emotionally constipated person has to make a joke.

"Does that mean I get a proper allowance?" but in spite of her words she hops down and wraps her arms around him, she's probably just trying not to cry.

-

Ludovic puts his hand on the white horses neck for a moment before leaning to give another apple (where is he keeping them all?) to a bay mare who's started hopefully nosing at his hair. "Easy mistake." Ludovic tells Alia "Its not like they both dont have dangly bits between their legs." Rubbing a hand over the bays face he snorts at Elisha. "Got a feeling Alia wouldn't be happy if I stole a whole third of d'Meloni away." he grins at her. "So i'm afraid she's going to have to foot that bill."

-

"Two-thirds," Alia offered good naturedly, "Unless Anton has given up his lands and title." Still, Alis only offered a shake of her head, "Elisha is a Horned Knight. For all that she is a d'Meloni and a citizen of the Empire, she is under Augin's command and yours. She goes where the Knights tell her to go. But she is, as well, a member of my House and I will tend to her allowances."

-

Elisha laughs and rolls her eyes as she pulls back, and yes she's crying or maybe just the victim of imaginary rain, but she's not serious about leaving her blood family, she just had to distract everyone from her dastardly emotions. "I mean, technically you could adopt Alia and I, we have no parents," she teases before shaking her head. "Thankfully I don't need much, just food and a room in the barracks, so I don't drive us broke,"

-

"Alia wouldn't have it." Ludovic says "But yeah. I could. And would." A hand goes to Elisha's shoulder. "You'll get paid just like you did before everything went wrong Elisha. d'Korbina isn't poorer because we lost to much. Its poorer because i'm supporting all these knights and soldiers myself."

-

"I think I lost out on the opportunity when I bound myself to Darius, but you are still young, Elisha." She glanced to Ludovic and offered a nod, "But that is for you two to decide." And then, as she returned to Elisha, "You are also still a noble, and we will see you outfitted accordingly."

-

Elisha smiles weakly in that emotionally vulnerable way of hers. She had gotten so used to being alone that now she doesn't know how to handle all of the positive attention thrown at her like this.

"I love you both so much, i'll do my best for both pf you, I promise," she murmurs as she wraps her fingers around Ludovics hand to give it a gentle squeeze.

-

"You know." Ludovic jokes. And its obvious he's joking. "Augin needs a wife." He winks at Alia as if to say that will put paid to that and looks back to Elisha with an amused grin to watch her (hopefully over) react.

-

Alia offered Ludovic a smirk, "Augin is a fine man, and a more than capable knight and commander. A woman could do worse than your cousin, Dovi." She tipped her head to Elisha, "We love you as well, Elisha. I know that is not the easiest thing to hear, but it is true."

-

Fool me once and shame on you Dovi, she can never quite tell when it comes to Ludovic, but her sister is another story and when she chimes in to support these shenanigans Elisha gives her a good, long look before deciding its total crap and deciding to join the fun.

"I mean, I /did/ catch the man checking me out when he was running me through the drills to get my spurs back," she says casually as she tirns to Dovi to see just what he'll do with that information.

-

"Did you now?" Ludovic asks with amusement. "Well well. Augin wont thank you for that bit of information." He laughs. "But then he always did have a softspot for you." He produces another apple and offers it to the neglected rusty roan thats milling in for some attention.

-

Alia, seeing that Dovi was set to feed the other horses, stepped over in his direction, holding out a hand to recieve any other apples he might have hidden away on his person for the other horses, "This is certainly a weight off of my shoulders," she offered with that same humour.

-

Elisha laughs and shoves Dovi good natiredly with a sigh. "You both are terrible," she remarks with a shake of her head as she too moves to share the love with the ofher horses. Family, can't love with em, can't live without em.

"I have been meaning to ask though, once things settle, do you need me to get married sis? I know back in Aequor it would have been a big deal, but i'm not familiar with how important marriage may or may not be in the empire,"

-

Ludovic looks at Alia's outstretched hand and then presents her with another apple. "Thats the last one." As for what Elisha asks. He just smirks before looking to Alia too.

-

Alia shook her head, accepting the apple with a smile and walking over towards the third horse, and the forth. She twisted the apple between her hands, using a trick she had been taught to split the apple in two, before she offered one half to each, "Not at the moment, no. We have not been required to make marriage alliances between the Empire and the West, and we do not yet know the state of the Empire in the East. I see no reason to give you away so quickly, especially if you might wish to make that choice for yourself."

-

Elisha gives Dovi a fierce but harmless glare as he smirks at her, no clue what he's thinking but its probably something bad! "Oh with my handsomemug the suitors are just lining up, you know?" she snarks before shrugging as she pets her new horse with a soft smile.

"I have no desore to get married, but if politi nessecitate it I will, can always take a consort if I find someone crazy enough to sleep with me," she admits. "Just asking as part pf my catching up with the modern world,"

-

"I've heard they dont have any such a thing." Ludovic says "But they have ancient bloodlines and inherited power. So I dont believe it." He looks at Elisha and then looks her up and down much like you'd look a horse over in the market. "You could." He says with a shrug. "Any man who'd be put off by a few scars isnt worthy of you anyway. But thats my suggestion. Just go get yourself a lover."

-

"That is not actually how the political system works in the Empire, Ludovic." Alia actually sounded a bit annoyed, as she passed off the apple halves and then returned to where Ludovic and Elisha were standing. "But this is an argument I am not interested in having. As for you, do what you like, Elisha, I am not going to direct your lovelife."

-

Elisha tenses up a bit as Alia seems to get genuinely mad and just sort of nods, anything she moght had said to Ludovic gone to pure silence because in all the time since her return she's never seen Alia mad and she's not sure how to handle that.

-

Ludovic seems used to this particular little minefield because he keeps his mouth shut and just nudges Elisha. "Whats her name?"

-

Alia, for what it was worth, seemed entirely fine a moment later, as she moved off to say hello to the second of the horses who had already had a full apple, but don't tell him that. "Have you ever considered visiting the Imperial stables, Dovi? To see if you might find a useful horse their for breeding into this stock?"

-

"Albus," she murmurs quietly, decidingreguardless of where she sits with the empire she should choose a name that wouldfit in with them as these are Imperial lands now and she wants her to fit in.

-

"Albus it is." Ludovic pushes away from the fence, regathers the czekan that goes everywhere with him pretty much, and starts ambling back towards the house. "Its something I'm hoping to do when we get trade up and running again. Especially if Darius thinks they have horses that are actually a match of the one I gave him." Elisha gets a pat on the back. More of a slap actually. The sort of thing that tends to make people stagger when they aren't expecting it. "Alia and I disagree on a few things Elisha. Said we were like brother and sister didnt I?" He grins at Alia. "Just one of those things that cant change because we see everything different."

-

Alia turned, to follow Ludovic over towards the manor, "Darius is a fine knight, and has spent many years in the cavalry, but I do not know if his eye is for breeding. As well, he does not know these horses so well as yours. But it would not hurt to ask him. Or simply to go yourself. The stables are not barred to you." Alia allowed Ludovic to explain, before she offered, "The structure of what is considered the nobility is quite different in the Empire. It can be difficult to see the details that make up those differences."

-

Elisha stumbles and turns on him almost agressively before remembering this is Dovi and it was meant to be harmless. Thankfully, he's already heading back to the Manor when she does this so he misses it and she can shake it off like it never happened. "If big bro here can't be bothered then I will," she says playfully as she falls into step with the group with a small smirk.

"Does the empire pride itself on being so different than the wests nobility though? You seemed almost angry for a moment there," she murmurs so hopefully Ludovic can't here, and theres genuine worry for both sides in her voice.

-

If Ludovic hears the question or the comment he doesn't say anything. Instead he starts humming somewhat tunelessly under his breath.

-

Alia fells back with Elisha as the two followed in Ludovic's wake, "It is not about pride, Elisha. It is nothing more or less than the fact that nearly everyone I have met in the West makes assumptions about what the Empire is like, but none of them seem interested in actually asking. For example," she continued, "In the West, nobility is a right granted by blood. We are ladies because our parents and their parents before them were landed nobles. If you had done nothing in your life besides being born, you would have still been able to be a lady all of your life. Are there ancient and noble gens within the Empire? Yes. But they are not noble because of blood. They are noble because they have worked and been granted the rods of nobility by the Emperor. And they have remained noble because each generation has worked to retain those rods, which can be taken away at any time. In the Empire, you earn what you would keep."

-

Elisha nods quietly and smiles as she snakes her arm into Alia's one with an affectionate tap of head to head. "I understand, and like Darius himself, thats a system I can get behind. Dovi on the other hand doesn't really care about xetails like that, but i'm sure he means well, he's never spoke ill of you or the Empire when we were alone, he just lumps nobility all into one category," she points out before grinning mischeviously.

"But what does one have to do to get more rods? I do like the idea of being able to earn my way up,"

-

"Which got handed to them by their fathers and forefathers." Ludovic comments towards the end. Proving he was actually listening. "I've got two that I dug out of the vault from back before the Empire left. Sure. The Emperor can take them off me and any old joe can earn a new one if he happens to get lucky enough. So not exactly the same. Not trying to argue with what Alia says. But I dont see things as being as different as she does. And anytime it comes up we end up butting heads like a pair of old bulls."

-

"Yes, Dovi. If I have a rod, I give it to my son or daughter on my passing, but they still need to prove that they have the right to retain them. They do not simply have the luxury to hold onto them and do no work to serve the empire and expect to keep their status." Alia shook her head, though, at Elisha's question, "That would be for Darius to decide. It all depends on the service you are meant to provide to the Empire. Though, with the Empire in as much disarray as it is now, and with Darius only the Emperor in Waiting, we will have to see how this all develops once we are closer to achieving our goals."

-

Elisha chuckles softly when Dovi reveals he heard them after all, she's not suprised of course, and grins up at him with a wink. "Well you are the Storm Bull," she retaliates becore nodding to her sister.

"Sorry, I suppose i just get excited at the idea where deeds matter more than just birth," she admits sheepishly

-

"Like I said. Old Bulls." Ludovic stops for a moment in the courtyard. "We'd best overnight here. Don't worry. I'll think of something good and amusing to make it worth it." he grins. "Assuming dinner wont be enough." He smirks at Elisha. "Yeah. You know that picked up after the invasion? Its not just me who calls me that anymore."

-

Alia sniffed, no small amount of humour in her expression as she walked ahead to the door, "I much prefer the Daemon of Daemon's Hall. It has so much more scope for the imagination." Her amusement rolled into laughter, before she spoke again, "You remind me that I have learned a few new recipes from my time in Paras. I should pass them on to your cooks. They are actually quite delightful."

-

Elisha smiles and nods, not at all minding spending her time somewhere else, especially because with just the three of them she probably won't be crowding anyone by asking for a proper bedroom!

"Sorry Dovi, i'm with Alia on this, but don't worry, you can just have them both!" she declares playfully before turning back at the mention of food. "Well sounds like Alia is cooking tonight," she teases

-

"New food?" Ludovic asks as they file into the vestibule of the manor house. "Why Alia. You do know the way to my heart." The housekeeper makes the mistake of stepping to close to him and gets swept up into a hug that lifts her feet right off the floor. Like Elisha she reacts by swatting him around the head until he lets go with an entirely unrepentant smile. "We're so hungry." he tells her. "So very very hungry. Starving. Look at this waif." he gestures to Alia. "She's almost thin enough to slide under a door." The Housekeeper is clearly used to this sort of thing because she rolls her eyes, laughs and then heads off. Presumably to provide food.

"The Daemon of Daemon's Hall huh? Sounds more like Remy than me." He looks back at Alia. "Wait. Were you planning to cook?"

-

Alia shook her head, as she watched the greeting Ludovic offered the housekeeper. "Perhaps he might have been once. But he was lost years ago. And you have done more for the Hall and for the d'Korbina than he ever did." Alia considered, before she spoke again, "I would be happy to, if you all would like. But I would hate to offend your housekeeper."

-

Elisha had said it as a joke but quite frankly would rather enjoy just living simply, in no small part because while she knows Dovi's servants are probably great, she trusts her sister more. She does however laugh when she sees the way Dovi greets even his staff and not for the forst or last time is grateful her parents couldn't squire her in the home court.

"If food is the way to your heart then you can help us cook it, food made with love tastes the best!" she urges in an attempt to get Dovi in on the shenanigans.

-

"Sure." Ludovic says "But I still havent managed to laugh hysterically the whole way through a battle yet." He just grins at Alia. "I dont imagine she'll mind if you want to share some recipes with her." Elisha he just stares at before laughing. "Elisha! Dont you know? I'm forbidden from stepping foot in every kitchen found in Hellsmouth. Under threat of starvation."

-

"Because you are not The Laughing Demon. You are a force of nature entirely unlike your brother." Alia, nodding to Ludovic, turned to find her way back towards the sitting room, sure they would be summoned when the housekeeper was good and ready. "He likes to snack too much," she offered, as she wandered off. "Is Faith here?"

-

Elisha rolls her eyes at Dovi and Alia's declaration but lets the topic go entirely with a shrug as she makes her way into the sitting room as well, growing excited at the mention of fluffy Elementi.

-

"I wouldnt want to be." Ludovic says "I like being the storm bull. I always did. Ever since the first time it was muttered at me in annoyance." Theres a chuckle as talk turns to his hound. "He will be. Probably snuck in the back door whilst we were watching the horses. I'll go get him shall I?"

-

"Then why would you say that the name would fit you better than he?" Alia, having moved into the sitting room, found a place for herself not to close to the fire. The feverishness of her blood always seemed to keep her away. "I would like that. I do not get to see him as often as I would like."

-

Elisha makes her way onto the room and settles down on the sette happily before nodding enthusiastically when talk of the dog occurs. She liked faith when last she met her, elementi are soft and warm.

-

"Did I say that?" Ludovic sounds mildly confused. "I thought. Wasnt what I meant to say. I meant to say that the Daemon of Daemon's Hall would always make me think more of Remy than me. I've never really enjoyed names like that. We got our place for killing demons. Not for being like them." He chuckles again as Elisha says that about faith. "Dear me. Faith's always going to outshine me. No matter what I do." He does amble off in pursuit of the creature though, leaving a bunch of doors open in his wake (much to the housekeepers irritation). It works though because when he pushes one of the doors open the Elementi's sat there waiting for him. Tail wagging. They look at each other and then the dog goes charging over to Alia. Its almost like a scene from baywatch. Except there is no red swimsuit. Only fur and slobber.

-

"I suppose that depends entirely on what qualities of a daemon you are trying to invoke." But of that, Alia said no more as she watched Ludovic wander off. Soon enough, she heard the sound of claws and padded feet on the stones and she slipped from her chair, looking very small indeed, as Faith bounded in. He was tall enough that standing full, he seemed nearly of a height with Alia. With her on the ground, he dwarfed her entirely. "Faith has been my dearest love and boon companion, for all that he is yours, Dovi." And with that said, she buried her fingers in his ruff, giving him all of the scritches he had missed since last he saw her.

-

Elisha watches the human and elementi pair with a small content little smile. She likes Elementi she's decided, and maybe if the former duchess is ever put in her place she'll get one for herself.

-

"You'd never believe he's been my dog for twenty five years with the way he carries on would you?" Ludovic asks as he returns to the room and flops down onto a couch. "Daemons have qualities?" Is the first thing he asks. "Really?" Theres no sarcasm here. Its an honest question.

-

"Until he is needed at your side, and then you cannot ask for a better companion, at war or at home." And that was true. Faith clearly loved Alia's company, but he was Dovi's, first, last, and always. "Yes. They are cunning and strong, ruthless, and canny. Yes, of course the fact that they are demons does lend an evil air, but there is a reason why evil can be so very tempting, and so very difficult to escape or avoid."

-

"Difficult to escape or avoid sounds like Dovi alright," Elisha snarks, sending a grin and wink before quieting down and listening to Alia speak. The church would have her burned for such words, but lately it seemed like the church was on a self destructive course anyways, so maybe she was right that Daemons were more than just evil and mindless creatures.

"Don't forget charming, though I don't know if that aspect applies to Dovi,"

-

"I suppose there are worse things than embracing the bad things people say of you." Ludovic says with a grunt. "But.. do people actually call me the Daemon of Daemon's Hall?"

-

"No, just me," Alia offered, though her voice was slightly muffled by the Elementi. "And I do not think of it as a bad thing, but if you pefer the Stormbull, I suppose we can continue on with that." Alia's tone was light, though, humoured, rather than put out.

-

Elisha rolls her eyes and opts to snuggle unceremoniously onto Ludovic as she listens to the two talk, not really having much to add to the conversation.

-

"Nah." Ludovic says "If you really want to call me that. I'll stop complaining. Just dont call me the widower. That one really does annoy me."

-

"I would never call you that, Dovi, I think you know me better than that." Alia peeked out from behind the mountain that was Faith. "And if anyone called you that in my presence, they would have the flames to answer to. And then, I would be the Daemon, but not of Daemon's Hall."

-

Elisha blinks a bit at that and sits up to look at her sister. "Flames? What would you torch them to death?" she asks bemusedly before smiling innovently st Dovi. "Well if her torches fail i'll skewer them with my blade for you,"

-

Ludovic looks at Alia and then back at Elisha. "Ah. Of course." He takes a stone brooch off his sash and shows it to Elisha. "See this Elisha?" He asks. Letting her see it. Then his hand closes." He looks as if he's not doing anything particularly for a bit and then he frowns and stares down at his hand. Stupid magic. Scowl. Stare. Eventually he looks back up and opens his hand to show that the brooch is now a little bunny. "Magic."

-

Alia looked over at her sister, her expression wholly flat, and for that brief moment, she did not look like Alia at all. "Yes. I would. And I would feel no remorse in doing it." As soon as the words were out, her expression softened, humanized, perhaps. And her attention shifted to Ludovic, as he shaped the brooch.

-

Elisha does get dostracted by Dovi's magic trick, she knows he's magic already so it doesn't shock her and she even manages not to laugh at his embarassing use of it. She's seen her share of expert mages during enslavement so she knows its not the best example, but she's glad he trusts her enough to show her.

"And like i said, I would join you, but you have to admit the mental image of you lobbing torches at them is pretty funny,"

-

Alia hmms, as she watched the brooch being offered, "Oh, that is not my style of magic, so I think you would not need be that amused. I think, generally speaking, horrified is the reaction I get from most, though not in the Empire." Alia, as if she were reminded of it, released Faith long enough for the elementi to flop into her lap, and for the woman to reaching into the bag she always carried with her, retrieving a small stone cat from her bag, "It goes everywhere with me. Although, Dovi tells me he doesn't need it to find me."

-

"Did I tell you I can find swords now?" Ludovic asks Alia suddenly. "I managed to dig one of them up just last night."

-

Elisha arches an eyebrow and grins at Alia. "Sister dear, we are blood, unless you are lobbing the torches at me, i doubt i would be terrified," also her sister is a mage too, she's starting to feel like the only non magical user there is!

-

Alia's expression brightened, "That's wonderful, Dovi! How many attempts have you made? I am still researching the possible locations for Lady Ruin." Elisha's grin brought a shake of her head, "I do not lob torches." But on that score, she would say no more. There was no good end to that conversation.

-

"Not a clue." Ludovic says "Enough that its turned into a bit of a joke." he makes a soft cluck type sound and Faith abandons Alia's lap to go over and settle against his legs where Ludovic starts to idly rub his shoulders and back. "I'm glad I tried it. It was good advice."

-

She's in aaaand she's out again. Ah well, let them have their mysterious conversation, she'll just lurk on the sidelines and try to make sense of it.

-

"I am glad that you made the attempt." Alia glanced to Elisha, as if sensing that she would have no idea what they were talking about, "Lady Ruin, the blade of House d'Korbina was lost when the Qaatunax brought Mount Tharsis to life. We have been considering ways that we might find it and return it to Ludovic."

-

Elisha sighs and shakes her head. "Well at least Dovi and I have another reason to hate the qutanux, right Dovi?" she asks when she's informed about the fate of Dovi's family blade.

-

"As if we ever needed more than one." Ludovic tells Elisha with a smile. He yawns then, stretching and going "This old man's starting to see double. So I reckon I'd best go sleep off the rest of this headache." he gives alia an apologetic look. "Sorry to leave you both before dinner but I hit my head the other day. S'not agreeing with me well."

-

"Have you seen the medicos, Dovi? I have a few things in my bag that might help with the healing." Alia was rarely unprepared. Life was too prone to injury and accident. "We will have the housekeeper save your meal." She tipped her head at Faith, "Don't let him do anything but rest, now."

-

"I have." Ludovic says to Alia. Although in truth he barely mentioned the headache. "They made my shoulder ache like a devils been gnawing on it and gave me some sort of foul tasting tea. I'll be alright. Not the first time I've banged my head."

-

Faith goes back to lie by Alia's feet. Clearly he's not planning to play nursemaid tonight.

-

Elisha sighs and gets away from Dovi so he can leave. "If you die I'll get the Daemons to drag your Arse back," she reassured with a wink.

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